Magnetic stepping motor



May 6, 1930. E. QUARTIER 1,757,922

MAGNETIC STEPPING MOTOR- Filed July 11, 1927 Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES EMILE QUARTIER,. F NEUCHATEL, SWITZERLAND MAGNETIC STEPPINGMOTOR Application filed July 11, 1927, Serial No. 204,974, and" inSwitzerland September 23; 1926.

This invention refers to an automatic control device for anelectromagnetic device, for instance for an electromagnet for rewindinga clock movement.

ii It comprises a movable contact element mounted in the circuit of theelectromagnetic device, independent of the movable portion of thislatter and designed to come into contact with this movable portion so asto conm trol the circuit of the electromagnetic device, and this elementis under the action of a spring and so arranged that its first contactwith the movable element of the electromagnetic device takes place in adifferent position to that in which the breakage is produced, so as toensure satisfactory operation of the controlling device, in the event ofprolonged use.

I The annexed drawing shows, by way of 2d example, a constructionalembodiment of the control device, applied to an electromagnet, producingthe rewinding of a clock movement.

Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views showing the device in two difierentpositions.

The electromagnet is constituted by a shell or skeleton of U shape, onthe two arms of which are mounted the bobbins l3 and 13 for thewindings. Opposite the extremities 11 and 12 of the skeleton frame 10 ispivoted at 15 a bent armature 14 which is under the action of a spring16 operating a pawl 17 pivoted at 17' at its extremity. This pawl 17 isin engagement with a ratchet wheel 18 in fixed connection with thewinding spindle 19 of a clock movement not -shown on the drawing. 7

At the extremity of the portion of the armature 14 located opposite theelectromagnet, the said armature carries a contact piece 20 adapted tocome into contact with a contact piece 21 mounted on a pivot piece 22but insulated therefrom, which piece 22 turns upon an axis 23 and isunder the action of a spring 24.

The contact piece 20 of the armature 14 is located between one extremity26 of the contact piece 21 and a projection 27 on the pivotally mountedpiece 22.

The spring 24 is connected on the one hand to a projection on thecontact piece 21 and on the other hand to a fixed terminal 25 connectedto a winding of the bobbin 13. It is so arrangedas to act upon thecontact piece 21 and the pivoted piece 22 in such a way that either theextremity 26 of the contact piece 21 or the projection 27 onthe piece 22is in contact with the contact piece 20 of the armature 14.

The operationof this device is as follows:

In the position shown at Fig. 1 the contact piece 20 of the armature 14is in contact with the extremity 26 of the contact piece 21. Theelectric circuit ofthe electromagnet is thus closed, passing. from thenegative pole of a source of current, for instance of a battery,

through the winding of the bobbin 13, the winding of the bobbin 13 theterminala25, the spring 24, the contact piece 21, the contact piece 20,the armature 14 and then returning tothe positive-pole of the source ofcurrent. By reason. of the closing of the electric circuit justexplained the armature 14 is moved through the attraction of theelectromagnet into the'position shown in .dot and dash lines at Fig. 1.

Owing to its displacement, the armature 14 causes the pivoted piece 22to turnaround its axis '23 by means of the contacting piece 20. Theresult is that the extremity 26 of Y the piece 21 rubs against thecontact piece 20. The spring 24 is stretched until the moment when it isexactly in the pivotal axis 23 of the piece 22. Assoon as it passes thispoint it extends and causes a sudden break as of the contact establishedbetween the piece 20 and the extremity 26 of the piece 21. The parts arethen inthe position shown at Fig.

2 in which the circuit of the electromagnet is open as regards thecontact 21. The projec- Jo tion27 of the pivot piece 22 is then inengagement with the contact piece 20..

At each displacement of the armature 14 the pawl 17 slipsteeth on theratchet 18 as shown in dot and dash lines at Fig. 1 and the spring 16stretched by the attractionof the electromagnet 'causesthe pawl 17 tocome back to its position represented in full lines at Fig. 1,.little bylittle, .in conformity with the working of theclockmovement.

Upon the return movement of the armature 14 under the action of thespring 16, the spring 24: is again stretched by reason of thedisplacement of the piece 22 by the projection 27 which is in contactwith the piece 20, until the moment when it has passed the pivotal axis23. It then extends suddenly and again closes the circuit of theelectromagnet to the contact 20, 26. The device thus works automaticallyas long as it receives current from an electric source.

By reason of the displacement of the contact pieces 20 and 21, theextremity 26 of this latter rubs upon the first mentioned, which causesa cleaning OK, in particular of the oxides coming from the sparking, andin addition to this the first contact between the two pieces takes placein another position to that in which the breakage of the contact takesplace, which ensures a satisfactory working of the controlling device inthe course of prolonged use.

The contact piece 21 may be arranged in another manner to that shown onthe drawing. In place of being fixed on the pivoted piece 22 it mightfor instance be mounted independently of this latter and be simplycontrolled thereby.

The electromagnetic device might be a solenoid in place of an ordinaryelectromagnet and it might be used for other purposes than the windingof a clock movement.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic controlling device for an electro-magnetic winder, anarmature for the electromagnet, a circuit closer, said armature andcircuit closer being in circuit with said electro-magnet, said circuitcloser including a plate oscillatably mounted, having abutments betweenwhich a portion of the armature acts for initiating the oscillatorymovements of said plate in either direction, one only of saidprojections being a circuit terminal, the path of oscillation of saidterminal being difierent from the path of movement of said armature,whereby the point of contact between said terminal and armature isshifted during the interval in which these parts are in contact, and aspring activated by said armature, through said circuit closer forsuddenly moving the latter to break the circuit at the end of saidinterval of contact.

2. A device for electro-magnetically winding a clock movement comprisingan electromagnet with armature and circuit closer actuated thereby, saidarmature and circuit closer being in circuit with said electro-magnet, apawl on said armature, in driving engagement with a winding wheel ofsaid clock movement, a drive spring imparting the driving urge to saidpawl, and biasing the armature away from said magnet, said spring beingarranged to hold said pawl constantly in engagement with said windingwheel, said circuit closer including a plate oscillatably movements ofsaid circuit closer, arranged to contlnue the movements of sald circuitcloser,

uius producing sudden respective interruption of the circuit andreclosing of the same according to the direction in which the armaturemoves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EMILE QUARTIER.

